West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-04-21

When the sweet spring flowers once
more opened their eyes again, after their
long winter sleep, Mrs. Shipton had left
her bed. And though she would never
be the woman she once had been, she was
yet infinitely thankful at once more being
able TO potter about her little cottage and
employ herself as Of yore. The words she
had so often said of George Harwood had
come true. He had "taken-up" with
Fannie Spring So the marriage might
be looked forward 10 any day. Anna
knew this and bore il bravely-bravely
outwardly; but alone in the solitude Of
her chamber, the anguish of her heart
was unlooScned and i'm fearless agony,
knceling by her bed, she would entreat
God 10 help her TO bear what was before
her, seeing the man she loved welded to
another girl.
One night when Anna was returning
from the little shop, whittier she had been
TO make few frugal purchases for their
little household, she met her old lover,
arm in arm with his new love. A flush
came into her pale face, and her heart
took quicker pulsation as she passed
them
Fannie nodded gay Good night,
Annam but her companion never spoke.
and she did not look at him. Hence
forth he must be nothing TO her; he who
was still so dcar-so dear
Fannie Spring was frequently in the
habit Of running down TO the Shipton's
cottage; but, to her credit, she never
once mentioned her lovers name to the
girl whom she had supplanted She was
gay volatile young creature, wilful as
gay, and completely ruled her aged father,
who almost idolzcd her
Anna always welcomed the motherless
girl kindly. Perhaps she was not so
thoughtful of her fathers comfort as she
might have been; but then she never had
anybody to teach her what was right and
dutliul, thcfore every excuse was due to
her.
There are some natures to whom duty's
dictates come naturally, but with Fannie
Spring it was not so self was the chiefest
thing with her. But her manner was so
bright and winning that it hid n good
many of her faults; and loves eyes are, as
we all know, proverbially blind.
This was the girl George Harwood now
intended to marry.
What use was it having a nice snug
cottage down at Sutton, if there wasn't a
wiz III ihl it lltti Dttl llttlItl TO SAY {,
but that defect was soon now TO be rene
died, for Fannie Spring was known to
have bought her wedding dress, so the
wedding must be close at hand.
One night little girl came TO the Ship
tons cottage with a message to Anna
from cid Matthew Spring, begging her to
come and see Fannie, who was rarely
ON it, Anna set out at once. and found
the latter with flushed checks and wild
ly-gleaming eyes, in the first stages of
fever.
"Shc had not been we'll for dav or
two, her father said, "but that night she
seemed a sight worse talked such gib.
berish he couldn't think what allied the
lass" "
For three whole weeks Anna STAYED
with the fever stricken girl, nursing her
night and day with all a sisters affection
ate care. In vain. Nothing could bring
back the strength which the fever had
taken. Nothing would bring the hue Of
health to the sunkcn checks. She was
fading away rs surely as the summer
flowers when the autumn winds shake
the frail petals to the ground.
II WAS a cloudy April night when the
spirit forcsook its tenement Of clav and
scared upwards Anna, seeing the end
was near, went down TO the Kitchen to
tell the poor father that his petted child's
last hour had come, and TO help him
upstairs TO take last farewell. She
found George IIarwood seated with him.
This was the first time she had been
IN his company since that April night
year ago, for though she knew every dav
he came TO inquire after Fannie, she had
never came across him at those times.
"1Ou will come upstairs, too will You
notz' she said to him; 'she is Ulile
sensible, and has been asking for YOU"
Whom they reached the diving girls
room the father fell on his knees beside
the bed sobbing out:
MY bonnie BARN my bonnie bairn 80
George HarwOod was more composed az
hc tcnderly bore the poor father up, and
bfdc him mot take on So, as it would
worrlt' But she was beyond all that
now. already the once bright eyes were
dim with the mists Of eternity. the CAV
voice low as the faintest echo. "GcorVc~
and though bis name was uttered scarcely
above whisper, hc, 10 whom she spoke.
heard it and bent over the bed anxiouslv
Fannie ' and when her dim ewes
rested on the one who had nurscd her so
unurngly for three long weeks. niQhta and
day She murmured $50 good happy
when I am gosc." She never spoke
again, gradually tho lids droopcd over
thc once bright eyes, gradually the breath
ing grew slower and yet more slow. until
IL ceased altogether; Fannie Spring was
dead
once more the sDcnt OF summer flow
crs hlI- the air, the haymakcrs arc busy in
the fields turning over the ncw-mOwu
grass, the birds are singing their sweetest
songs
Two figures are coming up the narrow
Slope leading from the scashore 90 the
land. ON whom the setting sun shines
lovingly
"Why should we wait darling be
says. "Your mother is well again now.
and poor Fannie has been dead three
months! Oh, Anna, if had married her
j should have been ever after most un-
happy man, considering that loved you
best all The time. She knew this told
her So but she was willing 90 have me
u should forget you I'm time. she used to
say. But knew wcll enough she was
not The one who would help me TO do it.
VIII you forgive me- Anna. for all fnc
hard words ] said 20 you thatApril night}
i sec now, darling, how good and brave
you arc putting all thoughts Of self from